Britain has abandoned plans to arm insurgents fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, sources familiar with government thinking say.

The Sources told Reuters that Britain is clearly not going to arm the militants “in any way, shape or form”, adding that British public is largely against sending arms to the insurgents in the Arab country.

There are also fears that any weapons Britain supply could fall into the hands of extremists.

The sources, however, said London will continue to train the foreign-backed militants fighting against the Syrian government.

“It [Britain] will train them, give them tactical advice and intelligence, teach them command and control. But public opinion, like it or not, is against intervention,” said one source.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to the United Nations, more than 90,000 people have died and millions of others displaced in the violence.

The Western countries, including Britain, and their other regional allies, have been supporting over two years of militancy in Syria.